From The Rector
By The Reverend Dr. Christopher D. Girata, Rector
We are disciples in a church that began 2,000 years ago when a small group chose to follow Jesus of Nazareth. The church has grown and changed in incredible ways through the centuries, but from the beginning, faithful disciples believed that the Holy Spirit gives us all unique gifts to grow God's kingdom. That belief still rings true today.
In St. Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth, he wrote, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of works, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work (1 Cor. 12:4-6)." As followers of Christ, we are blessed with gifts from God and given the opportunity to share our gifts with others.
At Saint Michael, we share our gifts to transform ourselves and our community. I do not take that kinds of sharing for granted. It's commonplace for our world to encourage individualism and self-reliance. Striking out on our own and making our own way might work well in the world's economy, but God never wishes us to be alone. In God's economy, community comes first.
Jesus tells us that "where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them (Mt. 18:20)," and when he sends out his followers into the world, he "sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go (Lk. 10:1." The model we have in Christ is a clear emphasis on our relationships with one another. We are best when we practice our faith together.
True community comes when we are vulnerable with one another and we share our gifts together. When the world teaches us to make as much as possible, to gain as much as possible, to keep as much as possible, we find ourselves far from God and from God's hope for our community. Instead, we are called to share what we have. We are called to give a portion of our gifts to the community, trusting that we will become more together.
Ready to Give?
Gifts come in many forms, but sharing gifts is not complete until we all share our time, our talents, and our treasure. Our personal faith life is left incomplete when we limit our gifts, and I don't want that to happen to any of you. This year-right now-make a pledge of time given in support and love for your neighbors, make a pledge of the talents with which God has blessed you, and make a pledge of treasure to help fuel the work we do as a community of faith.
We all have more than we need and this year, let's give thanks to God for who we are and what we have by sharing with courage, boldness, and faith.
The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata
Rector